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from three million units to half a million units per year in 2006, the demand for public housing increased sharply. The waiting list for public housing increased from 129,000 to 152,000 in 2010 (a 17.8% rise within one year). As a result of the long wait, many people turned to subdivided flats, where
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is responsible for the implementation of the
Ordinance, which include promoting public awareness of the regulatory regime; handling enquiries; providing free advisory and mediatory services to tenants and landlords on tenancy matters; and taking enforcement action as appropriate. The Government has
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Residents in subdivided flats tend to have smaller social circles. Living in such poor conditions may lower their self-esteem. Residents tend to become less sociable and introverted. The overcrowded living environment leads family members to compete for space and is more likely to experience family
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The Hong Kong government launched an investigation in April 2011. The
Buildings Department made a large scale operation to inspect 150 target buildings every year for rectifying buildings with sub-divided flats. The Buildings Department deployed over 480 professionals and staff to investigate the
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had reached 38.5 degrees
Celsius, six degrees above the roadside figure. Residents are often unable to afford the electricity to air condition, they struggle to survive in unventilated and windowless rooms. Improperly installed plumbing can lead to water seepage and unhygienic conditions.
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In July 2021, the government announced a bill that would put rent-control limits on certain subdivided flats, the bill was passed on 20 October 2021 and has been incorporated as Part IVA of the
Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) Ordinance (Cap. 7), which took effect on 22 January 2022.
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The process of adding non-structural partitions and openings in structural walls can adversely affect their structure, increasing the risk of collapse. Buildings with subdivided flats are densely populated and feature narrow corridors, complicating escape from fire and other dangers.
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Soaring rental prices compound the problem. The data in the "Private
Domestic - Average Rents by Class" report provided by the Rating and Valuation Department found that from 2008 to 2011, rents increased by 15.1%, making it challenging for lower-income residents to afford.
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to promote the new legislation to implement the tenancy control on subdivided flats at district level; raising public awareness of the new regulatory regime under the new legislation; and handling general enquiries, etc. The
Government has also engaged a
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A three-alarm fire occurred in a tenement in June 2011 at 111 Ma Tau Wai Road, killing four people and an unborn child and injuring 19. Some tenants could not find a way out and survivors complained of locked emergency exits. A fire burned
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Subdivided flats were described as being "human-flesh steamers". The temperature inside is far hotter than it outdoors, because of poor ventilation. Data from
Society for Community Organisation found that the temperature in one flat in
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Apart from launching the investigations and providing relocation allowances, the government allows both owners and tenants to consult building professionals to rectify irregularities and report situations to the
Buildings Department.
280:(a)the use as two or more separate dwellinghouses of any building previously used as a single dwellinghouse involves a material change in the use of the building and of each part of it which is so used;
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citizens, low-income families and new immigrants. The median living area per person of a subdivided flat was found to be 40 square feet for small suite and 30 square feet (2.8 sqm) for cubicle in 2009.
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Under the
Community Care Fund Relocation Allowance, the government launched an assistance programme for occupants to move out of partitioned flats in industrial buildings. Individual tenants can get a
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is one of the important forces leading to subdivided units. According to the
Grassroots Housing Rental Price Research Report 2011, released by the Society for Communication Organisation, the Hong Kong
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It is estimated that 280,000 people live in subdivided flats or other similarly undesirable conditions, mostly located in old residential buildings. According to a study by the
600:"The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - Bills Committee on Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) (Amendment) Bill 2021"
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141:'s failure to accurately forecast future housing demand is the leading cause of the shortage. After the government reduced the building of
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sub-divided flats. The report showed the success of the investigations. 170 removal orders were issued in January 2012.
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In the early 1990s nearly third of London housing capacity was attributed to conversion of houses to smaller flats.
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622:"Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 to take effect on January 22, 2022"
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to establish and manage a Tenancy Control of Subdivided Units Information Portal (website:
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in December 2011. Both tragedies revealed the lack of safety of such living arrangements.
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The second factor leading to the increased practice of subdividing flats is the widening
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How to report on irregularities of building works associated with subdivision of a flat
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are added or altered. These updates can compromise the building's safety and hygiene.
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divided into two or more separate units to house more people. The flats' original
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42:, as Need general overview in international level rather than only Hong Kong.
574:"Rent control: the protections and pitfalls of Hong Kong's new property law"
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736:"New Territories Association of Societies (Community Services) Foundation"
602:. The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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Frequently Asked Questions – Subdivision of a flat (Subdivided units)
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2,100 allowance; 4 tenants or more can receive a $ 6,100 allowance.
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Grassroots Housing Rental Price Research Report 2011年基層房屋租金研究報告
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760:. Tenancy Control of "Sub-divided Units" Information Portal
738:. Tenancy Control of "Sub-divided Units" Information Portal
716:. Tenancy Control of "Sub-divided Units" Information Portal
694:. Tenancy Control of "Sub-divided Units" Information Portal
672:. Tenancy Control of "Sub-divided Units" Information Portal
650:. Tenancy Control of "Sub-divided Units" Information Portal
782:. Tenancy Control of Subdivided Units Information Portal
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CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION
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648:"New Home Association Hong Kong Island Service Centre"
146:the rentals are much cheaper than private housing.
91:are usually removed, and new ones are erected. New
842:Interviews of residents living in subdivided flats
714:"New Home Association Kowloon West Service Centre"
252:to set up six district Service Teams, assisting
397:Subdivided Units Study Report 籠屋、板房及套房 租住問題研究報告
356:Subdivided Units Study Report 籠屋、板房及套房 租住問題研究報告
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115:, people living in subdivided flats are mainly
291:Residential conversion requires permission.
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829:Residential conversions, page 33, March 2016
670:"Y.T.M. Concern For Livelihood Association"
72:The exterior appearance of subdivided flats
780:"About Web-based Information Portal (WIP)"
425:No place for subdivided flats in our city
827:Housing: Supplementary planning guidance
548:Community Care Fund Assistance Programme
519:Fire safety problem of sub-divided units
475:Subdivided flats provoke family conflict
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847:Measures to deal with subdivided flats
692:"Hong Kong Single Parents Association"
626:Press Releases of the HKSAR Government
444:Poor sweat it out in 'flesh steamers'
411:Private Buildings Department of HKSAR
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274:Town and Country Planning Act 1990
113:Society for Community Organization
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867:Apartment buildings in Hong Kong
758:"Shatin Inhabitants Association"
494:, Building's Department of HKSAR
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254:Rating and Valuation Department
245:Rating and Valuation Department
250:non-governmental organisations
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462:Buildings Department of HKSAR
343:Buildings Department of HKSAR
259:non-governmental organisation
314:House in multiple occupation
99:are installed, and internal
852:Project on subdivided flats
384:Half-yearly Economic Report
133:The insufficient supply of
38:to comply with Knowledge's
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508:, KCL PASS,8 December 2011
807:www.planningportal.co.uk
578:South China Morning Post
480:South China Morning Post
449:South China Morning Post
430:South China Morning Post
51:may contain suggestions.
36:may need to be rewritten
803:"Flats and maisonettes"
524:Press Release of HKSAR
324:Gosiwon in South Korea
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170:Socioeconomic problems
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872:Housing in Hong Kong
309:Housing in Hong Kong
189:Social relationships
135:housing in Hong Kong
263:www.sdu-info.org.hk
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45:You can help
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16:Type of flat
432:,7 Aug 2012
194:conflicts.
861:Categories
330:References
304:Caged home
207:Case study
156:wealth gap
139:government
117:unemployed
276:defines:
220:Solutions
107:Hong Kong
49:talk page
441:Lau, S.,
298:See also
283:—
248:engaged
97:kitchens
584:21 July
505:On fire
93:toilets
786:11 May
764:11 May
742:11 May
720:11 May
698:11 May
676:11 May
654:11 May
632:12 May
606:11 May
422:Lo,A.,
198:Safety
124:Causes
101:drains
83:) are
47:. The
85:flats
814:2021
788:2022
766:2022
744:2022
722:2022
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243:The
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